Doesnt matter the previous owner wanted it to not only be fast but look fast. Im sure the car has been beat on... carfax?

 

ya did carfax its clean. there is no aftermaket parts on engine. i dont think it was raced probably for show. if raced it would have aftermarket intake and header at least. the interier is very clean so i would have to believe it was well taken care of but i could be wrong. i probably will buy tomorrow

 

He/She could of had kept all the stock parts threw them back on and sold the aftermarkets.

 

ya but the car was a trade in for brand new car doesnt take a while to take of header and put stock back on. come on lets be realistic

 

the 93 prelude vtec came with a h22a1
i should know i have one

the "h22a" is from a block destined for japan (92-98)
the "h22a1" is from a block destined for the US (93-96)

the engine is super clean because they steam cleaned it
every used car dealer steam cleans a car's engine before selling it, a little harmless grease on the intake manifold can make someone not want that car.

like the old saying, its whats on the inside that counts.
now im not saying that the motor on that prelude is shitty and was just powerwashed, im just saying there are other...better...ways to determine the mechanical state of a vehicle. not by how clean it looks

and another thing
every car has been "romped" no less than several times during its life.
not to mention the engine is designed for spirited highway driving, the emissions and fuel system also function at peak performance at highway speeds.

in prelude terms:
there is a big difference between an h22a1 that has been romped on and given cheap oil every 5k.

versus an h22a1 that has been spun to peak performance with synthetic oil every 3k, great gas, and solid maintenance.

but unfortunately you are not going to be able to tell the difference by comparing the shine of the alluminum head

since the cams spin at 2x the crank rpm...
pop the valve cover and give the cams a good look, that is one easy tell tale spot of poor lubrication and oil maintenance.
also check the color of the bridges, if they are dark then again, dirty oil has been staining them.
43k on my baby, i pop my valve cover and it looks like a honey pot inside

~boom

 

thanks boomer any advice to see if engine is in good amchanical condition. and if engine was in band condition i could always have engine rebuilt and it would be like new right?

 

depends on who rebuilds it

pulling the valve cover also gives access to the timing belt to check for wear

dry rev the car to see if it smokes, while it is cold, and while its hot if possible, to check the rings and the stem seals separately

you can also check the rubber flywheel plug for buildup of clutch dust, should give you an idea of clutch age

open radiator cap and examine the inside rubber seal of the cap for sticking corrosion, it usually looks like alluminum colored goo, sometimes with small metal flakes

under the car:
check the very bottom of the timing cover near the crank pulley for oil or antifreeze coming out of the small drain hole. this can indicate a worn main seal or water pump bearing seal

bunch of other things too but those are probably already too involved for ya

~boomer

 

Just lookin out for a fellow luder...

 

well sice the price is firm for 6k if any of you guys know someone selling or if your selling a prelude let me know. I would like the h22 in the car. I have cash. please let me know. im located in san diego